Notice of Nomination for Office

This notice is for anyone proposing to be a candidate in the 2026 Municipal and School Board Elections to be held: Monday, October 26, 2026.

Section 33(1) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 provides that a person may be nominated for an office by filing a Nomination Form with the Returning Officer in the Municipal Clerk’s Office, in person, or by an agent, at City Hall, One Main Street South, Kenora, ON.

Nominations will be accepted for the offices of:

• Mayor: One (1) to be elected
• Council: Six (6) to be elected
• Keewatin Patricia District School Board: Three (3) to be elected 
• Kenora Catholic District School Board: Five (5) to be elected 
• French Language Separate Trustee - Conseil Scolaire de Catholique des Aurores Boreales: One (1) to be elected
• French Language Public Trustee - Conseil Scolaire de District du Grand Nord de L'Ontario: One (1) to be elected

The four year term of office is November 15, 2026 to November 14, 2030.

All Candidates must provide the following at the time of submitting a Nomination:

1. The Nomination Form shall be in the prescribed Nomination Paper (Form 1).
2. Each proposed candidate must file the prescribed declaration “Endorsement of Nomination Form (Form 2) signed by at least 25 persons (School Board candidates are exempt).
3. Declaration of Qualification Form - Council, or
4. Declaration of Qualification Form - School Board
5. The nomination fee is to be paid in cash, debit, certified cheque or credit card; the fee is $200.00 for the Office of Mayor and $100.00 for Councillor and all other Offices. 
6. Candidate Identification (driver’s license or other government issued photo identification).
7. Facsimile signatures are not acceptable and must be filed in person.

The required forms may be filed by making an appointment with the City Clerk beginning Friday, May 1, 2026 up to and including Thursday, August 20, 2026. NOTE: no appointments are available May 4 to 6. On Nomination Day, Friday, August 21, 2026, between the prescribed hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. 

Under Section 29(1) of the Municipal Elections Act – "A person may only be nominated for an office if, as of the day the person is nominated:

1. he or she is qualified to hold that office under the Act that creates it
2. he or she is not ineligible under this or any other Act or otherwise prohibited by law to be nominated for or to hold the office."

Note:

• No person who proposes to be a candidate may solicit or accept contributions for election purposes, or incur campaign expenses, until that person has filed a Nomination form with the City Clerk.
• No person may campaign for election purposes until that person has filed a Nomination form with the City Clerk.
• Any person, who was in default from the 2022 election by failing to file a financial statement in the prescribed form, shall be ineligible to be nominated in the 2026 election.

Contact

Heather L. Pihulak, City Clerk/Returning Officer

807-467-2295